Indicator for internal-combustion engines



Dec. 23, 1930. F. w. SMITH 1,73634 INDICATOR FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTIONENGINES Filed June 2l, 1929 Patented Dec. 23, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE FREDRICK WILLIAM SIVIITI-I, F NIAGARA FALLS, ONTARIO,-CANADAINDICATOR FOR INTERNAL-COIIBUSTION ENGINES The invention relates toimprovements in indicators for internal combustion engines as ldescribedin the present specification and shown in the accompanying drawingswhich form part of the same.

In setting the valves of an internal combustion engine it is essentialthat they be properly seated upon the valve facings before adjustment ismade. At the moment of liring, the piston of a cylinder is at top deadcentre and as a result it is in an ideal position for the setting of itsvalves. This position, however, cannot be readily determined,particularly when an engine is of multiple cylinder type such as usedfor automobiles. Hence it is the object of the present invention toprovide an indicator for this purpose. Y

This indicator Yembodies an electro-mechanical arrangement forconnection to the ignition circuit in order to signal the firingposition of the piston and also to indicate the particular piston of ablock brought to top dead centre.

By the use of this invention the firing positions of a multiple cylinderengine are successively indicated -as the crankshaft is turned,thusenabling a mechanic to properly set the valves.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a practicalembodiment of the invention togetherY with a diagrammatic illustrationof the part of the ignition system to which the invention is connected.

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a dial for a particular firing order.

-Figure 4 is a plan View of Figure 1 omitting the diagrammaticillustration of the ignition system.

versal joint 6 connected to a clamp 7 for attachment purposes. Thisclamp is not shown in detail since it is not a part of the invention,and, furthermore, there are various forms of clamps known to the artwhich may be equally well employed. A horizontal eX- tension 8 of thebracket carries .a transversely journalled shaft 9 shouldered at one endagainst the extension by a collar 10 and having a threaded extremityllslotted as at 12 to form a keyway. The other end of this shaft carriesa ratchet 13, and upon the inner side of this ratchet is a ring 14circumferentially indented as at 15 by conical indents. These indentsare spaced corresponding to the pitch of the ratchet teeth 16. 17 is aspring-urged plunger mounted in a boss 18 of the extension 8 and havinga pointed end 19 for engagement with the indents 15. This plunger, ordetent, functions to preclude inadvertent movement of the ratchet.

20 is a dial consisting of a disc having a central opening 21 in orderthat it may be placed over the extremity 11 of the shaft 9. An integralkeyway 22 fits into the keyway 12 in order to prevent independentrotation of the disc with respect to the shaft. '23 is a wing nut fittedon the extremity 11 for securing the disc to the shaft.

' In practice it is proposed to have a number of these discs each ofwhich corresponds to a particular ring order of an engine so that theset of discs will take care of the various firing orders and number ofcylinders used on standard internal combustion engines. Each disc has acircumferential arrangement of numbers, as at A denoting the particularfiring order, the angular spacing of these members corresponding to thatof the teeth of the ratchet.

24: is an electromagnet rigidly supported on the bracket and having acore 25. This magnet has a conductor 26 for connection to the terminal27 of the distributor 28, thus securing it to the secondary circuit ofthe ignition system. It is of course understood that some form of clipwill be provided on the end of the Wire in order to adapt it forconvenient attachment. A further wire 29 is grounded to the engine sothat upon the crankshaft being turned the electromagnet Will beenergized upon any piston reaching its iiring position. Needless to saythe switch must be turned on.

30 is a plunger slidably mounted in a boss 3l of the l' racket andhaving an end 32 positioned adjacent to the core of the electromagnet,the spacing constituting a gap 26, which gap corresponds to the pitch ofthe ratchet teeth. rhe other end of the plunger carries a paWl 33pivoted at 34 and designed to engage the teeth of the ratchet forturning it in an anti-clockwise direction; see Figure 1.

85 is a spring for holding the pawl in engagement with the ratchet. 36is a compression spring positioned between the lugs 37, 37 for yieldablyholding and returning the plunger to its outer position.

3S is an arm rigidly extending from the extension 8 of the bracket andcarrying an arrow head 39 positioned to coincide With the figures A asthe disc is turned. Adjacent to the arrow head is a lamp consisting of abulb l() litted in a socket formed integral with the arm 38 andelectrically connected to the conductor 26 by a uire all, the other Wireof the circuit being grounded as at In the operation of the inventionthe electromagnet is connected in circuit With the ignition system of anengine and the disc or dial 2O is so set that upon turning thecrankshaft until the iirst piston reaches dead centre the electro-magnetwill bc energized thus attracting the plunger and drawing it intocontact With the core 25. This sliding movement causes the iaul torotatethe ratchet a distance of one tooth thus bringing the nu meral l of thedial into register With the arrow head 39. Coincidentally with theenergirzation ot the magnet the bulb 40 is illuminated and raises avisual signal.

Upon setting the valves of this piston the c anksha'ft is rotated thusdeenorgizing the magnet and allowing the plunger to return. A iurthermovement of the crankshaft results in a recurrent operation vvith thcresult that the dial registers the next piston brought to tiringposition and at the same time the signal lamp is lit. In this manner itwill be seen that the crankshaft is turned the liringorder of thepistons will be successively indicated by the arrow head land the visualsignal.

That I claim is:

l. An indicator o'l the class described comprising a rotatably mounteddial bearing indicia denoting the iiring order of an internal combustionengine, indicating means coacting with said indicia, andelectro-mechanical means for electrical con ection to the ignitionsystem of the engine and adapted to operate said dial to successivelybring its indicia into register with the indicating means.

2. An indicator of the class described comprising a rotatably inounteddial having indicia denoting the iiring order of an internal combustionengine, indicating means coacting With said indicia, and electro-mechanial means for electrical connection to the ignition system oi the engineand so adapted that as the crankshaft is turned said dial u'ill beintermittently operated so as to successively bring its indicia intoregister with 1the indicating means.

3. An indicator of the class described coinprising a rotatably mounteddial bearing indicia denoting the tiring order of an internal combustionengine, indicating means coacting with said indicia, a ratchet mechanismconnected to the dial, and electro-mechanical means for electricalconnection to the ignition system of the engine in order to operate saidratchet to successively brin the indicia of the said dial into registerwith the indicating means.

e. An indicator of the class described comprising a rotatably mounteddial bearing indicia denoting the firing order of' an internalcombustion engine, indicating means coacting Ywith said indicia, aratchet mechanism connected to the dial, a plunger adapted to actuatesaid ratchet mechanisma and an electromagnet for electrical connectionto the ignition system of the engine and controlling the plunger wherebythe dial is intermittently operated to bring its indicia intoI registerwith the indicating means.

5. An indicator of the class described comprising a frame. a dialrotatably mounted thereupon, said dial having circumferentially arrangedindicia denoting the firing order of an internal combustion engine,indicating means borne by the frame for coacting with said indicia, andelectro-mechanical means 'for electrical connection to the ignitionsystem of the engine and adapted to operate said dial to successivelybring its indicia into reg ister with the indicating means.

G. An indicator of the class described coinprising a frame, a detachabledial rotatably mounted thereupon, said dial having circumiterentiallyarranged indicia` denoting the liring order of an internal combustionengine, indicating means borne by the frame for co` acting With saidindicia, and electro-median ical means for electrical connection to theignit-ion system of the engine and adapted to operate said dial tosuccessively bring the indicia into register with the indicating means.

7. An indicator of the class described comprising a frame, a shafttherein, a disc removably keyed to the shaf", said disc havingcircumferentially arranged indicia denoting the firing order of aninternal combustion engine to constitute a dial, a` Wing-nut threadedlyengaging the shaft to secure the disc, indicating means borne by theframe for coacting with said indicia, and electro-mechanillO cal meansfor electrical connection to the ignition system of the engine andadapted to operate the shaft tosuccessively bring the indicia of thedial into register With the indicating means.

8. An indicator of the class described comprising a frame7 a dialrotatably mounted thereupon, said dial having circumferentially arrangedindicia denoting the firing order of an internal combustion engine, anarrow head borne by the frame and disposed to coact with said indicia,and electro-mechanical means for electrical connection to the ignitionsystem of the engine and adapted to operate said dial to successivelybring its indicia into register with the aforesaid arrovv head.

9. An indicator of the class described comprising a rotatably mounteddial bearing indicia denoting the firing order of an internal combustionengine, indicating means coacting With said indicia, a ratchet mechanismconnected to the dial, means for precluding accidental movement of thedial, and electro-mechanical means for electrical connection to theignition system of the engine in order to -operate said ratchet tosuccessively bring the indicia of the dial into register With theindicating means.

10. An indicator of the class described comprising a rotatably mounteddial bearing indicia denoting the firing order of an internal combustionengine7 indicating means coacting With said indicia, a ratchet mechanismconnected to the dial, a ring movable with the ratchet and havingindents corresponding in angular spacing to the teeth thereof, a plungerfor engaging the indents of the ring, and electromechanical means forelectrical connection to the ignition system of the engine in order tooperate said ratchet to successively bring the indicia of the dial intoregister with the indicating means.

11. An indicator of the class described comprising a frame, a dialrotatably mounted thereupon bearing indicia denoting the firing order ofan internal combustion engine, indicating means borne by the frame forcoacting With said indicia, a ratchet connected to the dial, anelectromagnet rigidly secured to the frame for electrical connection tothe ignition system of the engine, a plunger slidably mounted in theframe for magnetic retraction, a spring holding the plunger in a normaladvanced position, and a spring-urged paWl pivoted to the plunger andengaged With the ratchet aforesaid. V

Signed at Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, the 20th day of May, 1930.

Y FREDRICK WILLIAM SMITH.

